In this article, we'll see how PLC and SCADA systems differ, how they work together, and which protocols, scan times and security controls matter in industrial automation.
Technical Guides
Latest Posts
A practical selection guide to the STM32 Nucleo family: the three form factors, what the order code tells you, what the on-board ST-LINK actually does, and how Nucleo compares to Discovery kits and to Blue Pill and Black Pill boards.
A working reference for the STM32F103 line: the four density classes and what each gives you, why USB and CAN can't run together, the LQFP48 pin functions, how the Blue Pill is wired, and how to spot the clones on cheap boards.
STM32 vs ESP32 compared on architecture, Wi-Fi, power, peripherals, toolchains, safety, and longevity. Current 2026 specs from vendor datasheets, plus a decision table.
This article examines microcontroller vs microprocessor architectures at the system level, explaining how their hardware resources, boot requirements, software stacks, and application demands differ.
An STM32 microcontroller selection guide built as a working method: narrowing 1,644 parts down to one order code, organized by the constraint that actually drives your design rather than by part number.
This article explains the ESP32 pinout, including GPIO, ADC, DAC, PWM, UART, SPI, and I2C pins; safe and reserved GPIOs; strapping pins; board differences; power limits; and practical design considerations.
VCXO (voltage-controlled crystal oscillator) is a precision timing device that enables fine frequency control. This article explains how VCXOs work, their tuning range, Kv, key specifications, circuit design, applications, alternatives, and how to select the right device.
An explainer of how the STM32 Microcontroller family is organized, what the underlying Arm Cortex-M cores actually give you, and how the development ecosystem works.
This guide covers what is inside a servo drive, how its nested servo loops behave, how EtherCAT and CANopen interfaces change the architecture, and how to size, tune, and safely commission one.
This article explains how a servo motor works, its construction, control loops, encoder and resolver feedback, AC and DC types, sizing math, and tuning fixes.
An OCXO maintains its quartz crystal at a controlled temperature for exceptional frequency stability. This guide covers OCXO design for timing engineers, including oven systems, temperature-control loops, crystal selection, specifications, variants, applications, and emerging trends.
This article explains the ESP8266 pinout, covering GPIO mapping, boot-strapping pins, safe-to-use pins, flash connections, ADC limits, deep-sleep functions, and NodeMCU and D1 mini pin labels.
Arduino Mega 2560 pinout guide: 54 digital pins, 16 analog inputs, 4 UARTs, the PWM timer map, ATmega2560 port mapping, and current limits.
This guide explains industrial automation systems, the automation pyramid, core technologies, types, applications, benefits, and Industry 4.0 trends shaping smart manufacturing in 2026.
Complete ATmega328P reference: PDIP and QFN/MLF pinout, port registers, fuse bytes, Arduino pin mapping, errata, and lifecycle status.
Every embedded design needs a clock, but not every clock needs the same source. This guide compares bare quartz crystals against packaged crystal oscillators, including TCXO, OCXO, VCXO, and MEMS variants, to help engineers pick the right timing component.
This article explores active filter types, circuit design principles, frequency response, and key differences between active and passive filters.
Electronic power stage and control choices for brushless DC motors.
Understanding the device physics, trade-offs, and design guidance for power electronics
A deep-dive listicle guiding controls, automation, and quality engineers toward the best vision systems for manufacturing applications in 2026.
This article explains practical DC motor speed control techniques for both brushed and BLDC systems, covering design principles, control methods, and engineering considerations behind reliable motor speed control.
A crystal oscillator is an electronic circuit that uses a quartz crystal to produce a precise and stable frequency reference. This article covers crystal operation, equivalent circuit models, resonance, load capacitance, oscillator topologies, stability, aging, and design practices.
Understanding industrial vision systems by examining their components, imaging fundamentals, AI integration since 2020, and how to choose the right solution for every application.
This article presents an end-to-end motor control design methodology covering mechanical sizing, power electronics, sensor selection, real-time control algorithms, EMC, and functional safety for engineers building motor drives.
